Bulk Waste Program
What We Can Collect
Bulk Items
Acceptable bulk waste items include furniture, mattresses and debris from residential remodeling and repair operations (if the work is performed by the resident and the proper building permit is displayed). This material is taken to the Bethel Landfill in Hampton for disposal.Household Appliances (White Goods)
Household appliances, or "white goods," include such items as refrigerators, washing machines or dryers. A request for collection of white goods must be called in to schedule an appointment for collection. To schedule a collection, please call 757-933-2311. A collection will typically occur every Wednesday, but this is limited to the first 28 callers.Vegetative Waste
All yard waste, logs, tree limbs and brush must be placed in a separate pile from other bulk waste items. Clear bags containing grass clippings should be placed in the bulk waste item pile. If there are fewer than three bags, they should be placed in the green trash cart.Brush, tree limbs, bagged leaves and other yard waste should be placed at the curb separate from other bulk waste. These items are taken to the city's compost facility to be composted or ground into mulch.
Note: Waste placed at curbside must adjoin the property that generated material unless otherwise approved by the Solid Waste Division.
What We Cannot Collect
- Propane tanks unless valve is removed
- Oil drums unless they are cut in half or crushed
- Tree stumps or roots
- Limbs and other woody waste larger than 6 inches in diameter and longer than 6 feet in length
- Tires
- Dark (non-transparent) bags
- Bags containing refuse (household waste)
- Boxes or Plastic Tubs filled with debris
- Unbagged leaves, grass, pine straw or similar material
- Debris from work performed by anyone other than the resident
- Building materials unless work is being performed by resident, and the proper building permits have been obtained and are displayed
- Automobile parts, bodies, doors, driver trains, motorcycles or parts, lawn mowers or parts, and other similar materials
- Bricks, cinder blocks, rocks, concrete, glass, dirt, sand, sod or drywall
- Hot ashes and other burnt items
- Debris from vacant property that has been empty for more than 60 days
- Debris of any type on vacant lots
- Commercial waste
- Paint or any liquid items
- Styrofoam
Collection Procedures
Waste must be generated by the resident and a current Solid Waste User Fee must be assessed on the property. Bulk waste may be set out after 3 PM the day before collection; however, it must be at the curb no later than 7 AM on the designated day of collection.How To Prepare Your Bulk Waste
Place bulk waste away from vehicles, poles, mail boxes, and other obstructions, adjoining your property. If we are unable to reach your bulk waste due to blockage, it will not be collected.Except during scheduled loose leaf collection in the fall, yard waste (such as leaves and small clippings) may only be placed curbside if they are sealed in transparent plastic bags.
Woody waste, such as tree limbs and shrubbery must be cut in sections no larger than 6' by 6" and must be in a separate pile.
The total allowable volume of bulk that is allowed to be collected at curbside per resident each collection day is a maximum of 6 cubic yards. This includes the combined total of both bulk and vegetative waste. Up to 6 additional cubic yards may be taken to the Recovery Operations Center free of charge, provided it meets the same collection eligibility. There is no limit to the amount of LOOSE (unbagged) brush that may be taken to the Recovery Operations Center, however, it must still meet other eligibility requirements for size (each piece can be no larger than 6’ by 6”).
What To Do If Your Bulk Waste Was Missed
If you have followed all the collection requirements and your bulk waste was missed, call 757-933-2311. A supervisor will investigate.Common City Code Violations
- Volume of total bulk debris set out for collection exceeding 6 cubic yards
- Bulk waste blocked by vehicles, poles, mailboxes, etc.
- Failure to separate woody waste from other bulk waste
- Improperly placing bulk which creates a traffic hazard
- Prohibited items such as bricks, concrete, drywall and automotive parts
- Yard waste in non-transparent bags; bagged household garbage
- Vegetative waste over 6 inches in diameter or 6 feet in length
- Bulk waste from unoccupied property
- Contractor-produced waste
- Bulk waste placed on vacant lots